US soldiers charged in Iraq murder

The charges come as a US marine is convicted of killing another Iraqi in April [AP]

19 July 2007

Two US soldiers have been charged with the murder of an Iraqi last month near the northern city of Kirkuk.

Sergeant 1st Class Trey Corrales and Specialist Christopher Shore were each charged with one count of premeditated murder, the US military said in a statement.

No more details of the alleged murder have been revealed.

It was alleged to have taken place on June 23 near Kirkuk. The men were assigned to the 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division.

The military said Lieutenant Colonel Michael Browder, the commander of the unit was removed from his post "due to lack of confidence in his ability to command effectively."

Browder is not accused of committing any crime, but the two soldiers were under his command.

Last month, two other US soldiers were charged with the murder of three Iraqis.

Sergeant Michael Hensley and Specialist Jorge Sandoval were charged with the murder of three Iraqi nationals in three separate incidents.

They have also been charged with wrongfully placing weapons next to the bodies of the dead Iraqis, revealed after complaints from fellow soldiers led to an investigation.

The killings allegedly took place between April and June near the town of Iskandiriya, 50km south of Baghdad.

Hensley and Sandoval are currently being held in Kuwait.

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